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The Risk Perceptions about Nanotechnology and policy research

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The main focus of this study is to help government authorities establish a workable communication policy so that the public can gain a clear and profound understanding of nano technologies. In-depth interviews with experts, focus-group seminars, and telephone surveys were conducted to collect data. Those involved in the polls were: nano experts and scholars in related fields, with their opinions got through Internet surveys and face-to-face interviews (N=50);people working at the nano-related job sites, with their thoughts attained through face-to-face interviews (N=301);and the general public, with their responses collected through telephone interviews (N=4,600). In comparison with those of last year, findings of this year show that the approval rating among the general public on the statement that nano particles may cause cancer dropped 65 percentage points while that among the experts and scholars decreased 22.4 percentage points. Regarding the statement that nano particles may produce certain ecological effects when the substances are apreading throughout the environment, the ratio of concern level among the general public and the experts and schoalrs reduced 5.3 and 6.8 percentage points, respectively, while that among those working at the nano-related job sites swelled 28.6 percentage points. About the guarantee against safety risk offered by nano product manufacturers, the ratio of confidence level among the general public and the experts and scholars went up 13.6 and 2.4 percentages points, respectively, while that among those working at the nano-related job sites was down 1.6 percentages points. As for the media reports on nano technologies, the ratio of confidence level among the general public was similar to that of 2008, at 31.1%, while that among the experts and scholars rose 0.2 percentage points. For the government departments (such as the Environmental Protection Administration, the Department of Health, etc.) on the control of nanotechnology, the general level of trust in the proportion of the population increased by 3.2 percentage points over last year; workplace trust in the proportion of employees increased by 4.1 percentage points over last year. Trust in experts and scholars down 26.3 percentage points compared with last year. Can see that different groups for the views of nanotechnology risk perception exists a great difference.Suggested that the relevant institutions can plan a good communication measures, and to provide more education and advocacy nanotechnology research.
Keyword
Nanotechnology;Risk Perception;Benefit
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